Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 03, 2016 (SKNIS): The Ministry of Education has welcomed partnerships with non-governmental organizations and other private entities as it seeks to enhance local education standards.
While giving an address at Tuesday’s (February 02) scholarship ceremony of the St. Kitts-Nevis National Education Foundation (SKNNEF), Deputy Prime Minister, Honourable Shawn Richards, stated that education is the key to success in the development of individuals and the nation as a whole. He said a key component of that success is establishing and strengthening public-private relationships such as the one formed between the ministry, the SKNNEF and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in 2015.
“When CPLT20 enquired about making a monetary contribution to education, I seized the opportunity and directed Mr. Pete Russell (CPL’s Chief Operating Officer) towards the SKNNEF,” Richards said, citing his responsibilities as the minister of education.
The conversation between the parties resulted in a commitment to donate the proceeds of the CPL All-Star charity game to the foundation. The July 02 match between the Prime Minister’s XI and the Sir Vivian Richards XI at the Warner Park Cricket Stadium raised US$10,000.
CPL’s Public Relations Officer, Peter Breen, attended this week’s scholarship ceremony at the Sir Cecil Jacobs Auditorium at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and quoted an expression from his homeland of Ireland, which when translated means “praise youth and they will prosper.”
“That’s a big part of what this foundation has done today and will continue to do,” Mr. Breen stated, while offering congratulations to the scholarship recipients, parents, and SKNNEF Board of Councilors. He also praised the efforts of Deputy PM Richards for the vision he has in advancing the public interest.
“It is my professional belief that this union between the public and private sector should be a very natural and common place one built on mutual respect and trust,” the deputy prime minister said. “It is the ministry’s responsibility to educate children, but the wider community must be a part of that educational thrust.”
Forty-two scholarships were awarded to primary, secondary and tertiary level students by the SKNNEF. Honourable Richards said such partnerships help to widen the reach of his ministry and he looks forward to future collaborations with interested agencies and individuals.
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